More than speaking of Mary, we should draw closer to her in silence so as to be introduced into the mystery of God, into the mystery of silence. When we suffer inexpressible solitude which cannot be shared with anyone, and place ourselves silently before God, in a way we participate in the mystery of silence.

Slide 2

To stay in silence is simply to welcome the gift of God’s presence. Listen!

Let us contemplate the One who speaks the language of eternity.

Slide3

Mother of Jesus, I did not come to pray. I have nothing to offer you, and nothing to ask for.

I came, Mother, just to contemplate you.

I just want to be with you, and stay together with you.

Oh Mary, I ask you to lead me to Jesus, your Son!

Slide4

You are beautiful, O Mary. You are the Immaculate because you are the Mother of Jesus Christ, our Savior.

Because you are a woman whose glance goes straight to the heart and you allow the flow of long accumulated tears.

Simply because you exist, we thank you, Mother of God

(Paul Claudel)

Slide5

From the Gospel of St. Luke

The Angel Gabriel was sent by God to a city in Galilee called Nazareth.

To a Virgin promised to a man called Joseph, of the house of David. And the virgin’s name was Mary.

Slide6

And the Angel said: “Hail Mary, full of grace, The Lord is with you ”. She was deeply disturbed by these words… The Angel said to her: “ Mary, do not be afraid; you have found grace before God.

You are to conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you must name him Jesus. He will be great and will be called Son of the Most High, and his reign will have no end.”.

Slide7

“The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will cover you with its shadow. And so the child will be holy and will be called Son of God.

And I tell you this too: your cousin Elizabeth also, in her old age, has conceived a son, for nothing is impossible to God.”

Slide8

“Mary said:”

Slide9

I am the handmaid of the Lord. May it be done to me according to your word.

Slide10

Here is

a wonderful moment whereby heaven and earth join together, in silence, without clamor.

How different is the silence of isolation, that is, a loneliness which separates, from the silence that stems from

the intimacy of love, which is so profound a communion as to be ineffable, incapable of expression by any human word.

Slide 11

It is Mary’s silence. A silence which as a sweet perfume penetrates the heart of the Church, and of every believer; or as the echo of a song coming from another shore.